Automatic show card printing machine



Feb. 13, 1951 A. STlNSON 2,541,840

v AUTOMATIC snow CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 13, 1951 L. A. STINSON AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1951 A. STINSON 2,541,840

AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet 3 A Kr 1/4" *1 m li l iafig a fw w F 13, 1951 L. A. STINSON 2,541,840

AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet 4 wnw irm e/vsy Feb. 13, 1951 A. STINSON AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 23, 1948 L. A. STINSON AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Feb. 13, 1951 18 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 23, 1948 M PM /7 n 9 3 .n 6 7 00 PM 88 7 3 8 6 8 8 N 3 m0 r5 H 9% N m w & w

Feb. 13, 1951 sTlNSON 2,541,840

AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE I Filed March 23, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet '7 Feb. 13, 1951 A. STINSON' v ,840

AUTOMATIC, SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

Z YM/w f7. .fi'rmso/v L. A. STINSON AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Feb, 13, 1951 18 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March- 25, 1948 L. A. STINSON AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Feb. 13, 1951 18 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March 23, 1948 L. A. STINSON AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Feb. 13, 1951 18 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed March 25, 1948 5 204 My! ra/e Feb. 13, 1951 L. A. STINSON' AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed March 23, 1948 //YVE/Y7'O/ Lynn/v 14. 57/1150 irramver L "La- Feb. 13, 1951 A. STINSON AUTOMATIC snow CARD PRINTING MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed March 25, 1948 770 ,ews Y Feb. 13, 1951 s so 2,541,840

I AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet 14 5/ 3/144 x/z gwkk Feb. 13, 1951 L. A. STINSON AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed March 23, 1948 Feb. 13, 1951 A. STINSON AUTOMATIC snow CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet l6 Feb. 13, 1951 s so 2,541,840

AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1948 18 Sheets-Sheet 17 Feb. 13, 1951 L. A. STINSON AUTOMATIC SHOW CARD PRINTING MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 18 Filed March 25, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC snow CARD PRINTING MACHINE Lyman A. Stinson, Oak Park, 111.

Application March 23, 1948, Serial No. 16,455

22 Claims.

1 My invention relates to automatic show card printing machines and to similar devices.

My invention relates more particularly to an automatic show card printing machine of the type which may be employed to print show cards, price tickets and similar signs, and is especially adapted for printing signs and cards from approximately 1" x 2" up to approximately 22 X 28", or single line streamers of any desired length.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a completely automatic show card printing machine of the type described that is fast in action, simple to operate and one which the average layman can operate accurately and economically.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type described which carries a rotatable type drum, the type drum consisting of .a plurality of segments, each segment being provided with a row of type of different size vor style so that a wide selection of printing types may be obtained in a single machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type described in which the type drum is removable and replaceable so that by the provision of a plurality of type drums a great variety of styles of letters, numbers, etc. maybe obtained, the type drum being easily and simply removable and replaceable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a machine of thetype described mechanism for automatically spacing the letters. so that whether a period comma 'i or a wide 'M or W is used, the spacing will be :accurate and proper, .and can never vary even though the machine has been in long and continuous use.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple yet positive operating mechanism for accomplishing the printing of a letter or symbol,

one at a time, the only physicaleffortof the operator required being the turning of the drum to the desired letter or symboland then the pressing of a button whereby the machine is actuated to print the letter or symbol and then automatically space to be ready for the next-operation.

A further object of the present invention is .to provide in amachine of the type described a type drum having a plurality of segments mounted about its periphery, the segments each carrying a row of letters or symbols which :may be :cast type and so constructed that individual type iaces can be easily and quickly removed and replaced when-the become-damaged or worn.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a ma hin of th type d eerib d a m ra iv ly simple yet absolutely accurate type positionin m hanism so that w th each operation the letter or symbol desired will be accurately positioned so that the printing hammer will strike the same in an absolutely vertical downward pressure movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a ma i e o the type desc ibed n ink mechanism whereby mo e t an on col r m y b p int d if des red.

A fu t o ject o the invent on is to p o an inking mechanism having more than one color or .ieu ta n which may be chan e om one to the .othercolor by the simple expedient of opat n a smal hand lever.

A further pbject of the invention is to provide a drum supporting .carriage mounted upon parallel rails and capable of easy movement so that an ordinary ofijce girl or similar person can easily return the carriage and type drum to starting position after one line has een printed.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with the type drum previously described a dial which has indicia thereon corrependin to t ty fa es n the segments, and an indicator or pointer cooperating therewith so that the operator will at all times know which letter or symbol is being printed.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the -following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, upo wh ch:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the machine from the leit showing the manner in which an operator stands at the front of the machine .to

operate the same;

Fig. ;2 is a generally front perspective view of the machine, the deors of the storage cabinet being p n t how-11 severa pe d ums a be disposed therein;

F g. 3 is ap rsp ctiv View of one of the type drums;

ployedthe drum pivot and the pressure foot or :hammer .whichoperates toacccmplish the actual printing;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of similar parts showing them in more detail;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view. of the same parts taken generally on the line 88 of Fig. 7; V

Fig. 9 is a similar fragmentary view showing the spacer assembly and operating bar therefor;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front view of the parts shown in Fig. 9 taken looking from the left of Fig. 9;

Fig. lA is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken generally on line iii-A-Hi-A of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line lill of Fig. 6 showing the mecha nism for setting the detent to select the desired letter;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view through the carriage and rack showing in side elevation the automatic clutch and brake for the spacing mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the same parts, the view being taken from the right of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14. is a front view of the clutch release plate therefor;

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the freewheeling clutch parts taken generally on the line l6l$ of Fig. 12;

Fig. 17 is an end elevational view of the brake mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the inking mechanism assembly and associated parts;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the same parts looking at them from the front;

Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of the same parts shown mounted upon the carriage, with parts broken away in section to more clearly show other parts;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the margin stop mechanism;

Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the motor drive and associated parts;

Fig. 24 is a similar plan view of the cam members and associated parts driven from the main drive shaft;

Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken generally on the line 25-45 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 26 is a cross sectional view of the drive clutch assembly taken generally on the line 26-28 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 27 is a side elevational view of the same parts.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate and describe, I have shown in Fig. l the preferred form of construction wherein I provide a cabinet I!) upon which the base casting 52 may be mounted. The cabinet 13 as best shown in Fig. 2 may be provided with the swinging doors i4 and I6 and a pair of vertical racks l8 and 28. Each of the above mentioned racks is suitably mounted in upper and lower racks 22 ahd 24, so that the rack may be moved forward or back in the cabinet. Each of the racks carries one or more hinged brackets 28, the brackets each having a generally cylindrical hub 36 for the purpose of supporting additional type drums 32. 1

To the rear of and upon each side of the base casting I2, I provide vertical frame members 34 and 35, the frame members being rigidly connected to the base spider and to each other by the parallel rail members 38 and 40. In addition to the rigidity of this construction the three shaft members 42, M and 16 are journalled in suitable bosses 158, 5a and 52 in the web of the side frame members at and 36. Because of the disposition of the motor and drive mechanism on the base casting l2, I have provided tool drawers '54 and 56 in the cabinet 58 mounted above the base cabinet Hi. The drum carriage may be generally in the form of a rectangular plate 60 which is provided with the supporting rollers 62 mounted on the back thereof and the guide rollers 64 adapted to ride in suitable parallel slots 66 and 68 in the rails 38 and All.

The carriage plate 66 may have a hinged bracket HE} pivotally mounted upon a shaft H2 journalled in suitable brackets on the face of the plate. The bracket He serves as a mounting or support for the type drum M, the drum having a hollow hub 75 which is mounted in a collar bracket 78, the hub being mounted in a ball bearing mounting for easy rotation. A detent plate 82 is secured to the hub 16 riding in a circular opening 8c in the disc-like drum frame 86. The frame is mounted on the hub 16 and held in operative position by means of a locking nut 81, the locking nut being keyed to the hub in operative position by a set-screw 88.

The type drum id, as previously described, may include the frame 85 and a plurality of type face carrying segments 9i] equally spaced about the periphery of the same and fastened to the back of the frame 86 by screw members 92. A ring 94 may be fastened to the back end of each of the type carrying segmmts 90 by suitable set-screws 36. With this construction, including the disclike frame 86, the ring es and the type carrying segments rigidly fastened between the same a sturdy, well-built type drum is formed.

Indicia bearing means in the form of a circular plate 98 is mounted on the front of the frame 86, the plate 98 in the construction shown having four rows of letters, numerals or other frequently used characters such as periods, colons, commas, semi-colons, dollar signs, cents, dashes, quotes, percent signs, etc., it being noted that the size of the indicia corresponds to the size of the type faces IEO which are fastened in the segments 90. Thus, by comparing the type faces on the drum in Fig. 3 with the size of the indicia on the plate 98 in Fig. 2, it can be seen that the small letter 0, for example, is on a smaller circular row on the plate and the large letter O is in the largest circular row on the plate similar to the positioning of the type faces on the segment. For easy rotation and tilting of the drum M I have fastened an operating wheel I92 to the forward side of the drum, the wheel being supported by suitable brackets Hlt from the circular frame 86.

In addition I have provided a pointer IE5 which indicates both the character in printing position and the exact row of characters that will be printed. This pointer will operate along with the drum as it is moved to an angular position from with a pair of pivots I68 upon both sides of the same so that it may be conveniently supported in a hanger bracket H0.

The bracket H0 may be pivotally mounted upon a shaft H2 supported in a pair of brackets 

